Question about Shield Bash

[DracoSuave]

If by 'obsolete' you mean 'an ability not designed to be a high damage ability from the outset gets outclassed in damage by abilities designed to be high damage' sure.

If by 'obsolete' you mean 'less likely to hit' I dunnae think so. It has that native +2 bonus which is good until 13, when you replace it with a different power that has a +4 bonus.

It generally keeps up with the curve.

 

[tiornys]

If by 'obsolete' you mean 'an ability not designed to be a high damage ability from the outset gets outclassed in damage by abilities designed to be high damage' sure.

If by 'obsolete' you mean 'less likely to hit' I dunnae think so. It has that native +2 bonus which is good until 13, when you replace it with a different power that has a +4 bonus.

It generally keeps up with the curve.

That innate +2 bonus is competing with expertise and enhancement bonuses (the proficiency bonus is compensated by targeting reflex). At +1 enhancement it's even, but at +2 enhancement it's behind, and at +3 it's sadly lacking. +3 weapons start showing up around 7th level.

t~

 

[BobTheNob]

We actually house ruled this one (we had a Dwarf fighter with the same concern).

We treat shield based attacks as getting a bonus based on the level of the shield. So the Fire resist shield he has (cant remember its name) is a level 6 item, and therefore doubles up as a proxy +2 enhancement bonus for shield style attacks that dont have the "weapon" keyword.

Its working alright